McCloud-y Day For Suns In Vancouver

April 13, 1998 / 2:11 AM EDT / CBS/AP

George McCloud is getting more playing time for the Phoenix Suns, and he's making the most of his opportunity.

McCloud, making his second straight start since taking over for injured Danny Manning, scored a season-high 25 points Sunday as the Suns won their eighth straight with a 129-106 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies.

"I'm getting quality minutes and getting a rhythm," said McCloud, an eight-year NBA veteran. "I've always been able to produce as a starter. It's something that I always wanted."

McCloud, who also grabbed eight rebounds, became a starter after Manning suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday at Sacramento.

"You hate to see that happen to someone who has fought back through all the injuries, but it's a good situation to know that you have a guy like myself on the bench and other guys who can get the job done," McCloud said. "The depth of this team is starting to show."

Antonio McDyess added 23 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, who won their fifth straight road game and tied idle San Antonio for fourth place in the Western Conference. Both teams are 53-25 with four games remaining, but the Suns hold the tiebreaker edge over the Spurs by virtue of winning the season series.

If the playoffs started now, Phoenix would play San Antonio in the first round.

"We're definitely confident we can beat San Antonio with homecourt advantage or without it," said McCloud, who was 11-for-15 from the field. "We just want to continue playing our style of basketball and not worry about San Antonio."

The Suns set several records for Grizzlies opponents, including the best field-goal percentage (63.8) for a game and
most field goals made in one quarter (17 in the first).

Phoenix hit 14 of its first 15 shots to build a 30-12 lead seven minutes into the game. The Suns finished the quarter ahead 39-18 after shooting 17-for-23 from the field.

The Suns were shooting so well that Vancouver didn't hit back-to-back baskets without Phoenix scoring until George Lynch and Antonio Daniels cut the Suns' lead to 56-29 with 7:07 left in the second quarter.

"Yes, I was pleased with our energy level," said Suns coach Danny Ainge. "It's fun to play basketball that way and it was contagious."

Ainge also was pleased but not surprised with McCloud's performance.

"I've like George all year," the coach said. "In training camp, George was at one point our starting forward. We've had confidence in George throughout the course of the year."

The frustrated Grizzlies lost forward Michael Smith and coach Brian Hill in the third period when they were both ejected during a 13-second span.

Smith was tossed for picking up a double-technical after arguing foul called after he set a hard pick on Phoenix's Rex Chapman.

Hill, who was ejected from a game last month in Denver, was kicked out after being issued technical fouls six seconds apart for complaining to the officials. Assistant Lionel Hollins took over for Hill.

"What infuriated me was that the official started yelling at me and then when I responded, I got a technical," Hill said. "The official started screaming at me so I'm not supposed to scream back? ... That's my third (ejection) in 29 years and two of them are this year, so what does that say?

"It says that 18 wins are getting to me, I guess. Thank God I still have hair on my head. It's gray, but it's still on my head."

Daniels, the rookie point guard who lost his starting job in February, scored a career-high 23 points off the bench for the Grizzlies.

Notes: The Suns had won all three previous meetings against the Grizzlies this season, beating Vancouver by an average margin of 16 points per game. ... McDyess is averaging team-highs of 19.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocked shots and two steals per game during the Suns' winning streak. ... Grizzlies' center Bryant Reeves missed his second straight game with a bruised knee bone and his status has been downgraded to questionable for Tuesday's game in Seattle.

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